Newt Gingrich: “Pro-Life Fraud”?

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich’s quick rise to the front of the other GOP presidential candidates has hit a major speed bump. His new enemy?

Anti-choice activists in Iowa.

Calling Gingrich a “pro-life fraud,” fliers claiming to be from the group “Iowans for Life” are popping up all over the state, using a quote from Gingrich calling America a “pro-choice country.”

But is that really who is behind the attack? According to Sarah Posner, no.

As to why someone might try to impersonate her group, [Maggie DeWitte, executive director of Iowans for Life] said, “I have no idea,” adding that her group tends to be less political than the other major pro-life group in the state, Iowa Right to Life, and focuses more on educating grassroots activists. “It’s interesting, because we’re not really seen as the political group.”

It turns out that the flyer actually states it is paid for by “the Iowans for Life,” a mystery group that has yet to be tracked down. However, the charges sound very much like the same ones being used in a robo-call by Iowa Pro-Life Action, who is behind the push for a “personhood” amendment in the state.

Now you can all read about my buddy Newt

Ethics sanctions

Eighty-four ethics charges were filed against Speaker Gingrich during his term. After extensive investigation and negotiation by the House Ethics Committee, Gingrich was sanctioned US$300,000 by a 395-28 House vote. It was the first time in history a speaker was disciplined for ethical wrongdoing.[63][64]

Gingrich acknowledged in January 1997 that “In my name and over my signature, inaccurate, incomplete and unreliable statements were given to the committee”. [65] Most of the charges were dropped, in one case because there was no evidence that Gingrich was still violating, as of the time of the investigation, the rule that he was found to have violated in the past.[66] The one charge not dropped was a charge claiming tax-exempt status for a college course run for political purposes. In addition, the House Ethics Committee concluded that inaccurate information supplied to investigators represented “intentional or … reckless” disregard of House rules.[67]

Special Counsel James M. Cole concluded that Gingrich violated federal tax law and had lied to the ethics panel in an effort to force the committee to dismiss the complaint against him.

Resignation

Republicans lost five seats in the House in the 1998 elections—the worst midterm performance in 64 years for a party that didn’t hold the presidency. Polls showed that Gingrich and the Republican Party’s attempt to remove President Clinton from office was deeply unpopular among voters.[75] Gingrich suffered much of the blame for the election loss. Facing a rebellion in the Republican caucus, he announced on November 5, 1998 that he would not only stand down as Speaker, but would leave the House as well. Gingrich made this announcement only a day after being elected to an 11th term from his district. Commenting on his departure, Gingrich said, “I’m willing to lead but I’m not willing to preside over people who are cannibals. My only fear would be that if I tried to stay, it would just overshadow whoever my successor is.”[76]